Lewisville Reservoir - 2011 Survey Report

This is the authors' summary from a 38-page report. For a
copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lewisville Reservoir were surveyed in 2011 using electrofishing, and trap nets and in 2012 using gill nets. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lewisville Reservoir is a 29,592-acre impoundment constructed on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1954 to provide flood control, municipal and industrial water, and recreation. The lower end of Lewisville Reservoir is surrounded by urban development and is 25 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas in Denton County. The upper end of the reservoir is experiencing rapid development as well. Angler and boat access is adequate. There is one handicap specific facility on the reservoir. At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily natural shoreline, rocky shoreline, and standing timber.

Creel Summary

A spring quarter creel was conducted from March 2012 through May 2012. White bass were the most targeted species (65.1%) followed by largemouth bass (15.8%). Anglers spent an estimated $622,524 for the spring quarter at Lewisville Reservoir.

Management History

Important sport fishes include largemouth bass, white crappie, white bass, palmetto bass, and blue and channel catfish. All species are managed with statewide regulations with the exception of blue catfish, which are managed by a 30- to 45-inch slot length limit. The daily bag limit for blue and channel catfish remains 25 in the aggregate with only one blue catfish over 45 inches. Palmetto bass are requested annually at a rate of 5 fish per acre. A ShareLunker largemouth bass was caught at Lewisville in November of 2005. ShareLunker largemouth bass were stocked in the spring of 2006. Florida largemouth bass were stocked in 2006 and 2007.

Fish Community

Prey species: Gizzard and threadfin shad are in abundant in the reservoir. Bluegill and longear sunfish are also available as prey.

Catfishes: The blue catfish population continues to be good and the relative abundance of channel catfish increased since previous surveys. No flathead catfish were sampled during annual gill netting.

Black basses: Relative abundance of spotted bass population decreased from previous surveys. The largemouth bass population decreased in abundance from the previous survey, likely due to low water level. Catch of largemouth over 14 inches was much higher than previous surveys.

Crappie: The white crappie population increased over the previous survey. Condition of white crappie was good. Black crappie relative abundance increased since the previous survey with almost entirely stock-size fish collected.